Green-ish | ExpatWoman.com
 

Green-ish

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Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 05:21
Awful. Rest in peace beautiful soul.
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Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 05:17
Looks like we need our own forum..I am 45, single, no children, never married, no pets or boyfriend either. I'm I abnormal?..if travelling any time I want, leaving my shoes at the door, sleeping with my lights on, going to the cinema solo is abnormal then I am comfortable with the tag. and ooh just coz I am single does not mean I am available or not 'settled down' whatever that means Table for two Madam? No..just me LOVE it! Well said Moneybag. We all make our own choices and even when the odd life-choice goes wrong, we can pick up and move on from there. I don't think there's any such thing as 'normal'. Well, maybe my personal 'normal', and yours... As for what others think or say - Pfffft!
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Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 05:17
How is she doing today sherry?
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 16:27
I am 41 this year and never had kids although I am not single I also feel people judge me too ..... sad how some people think. Just for example: You have a boyfriend people ask when you getting married? you have one child people ask when you having another ? Get my meaning .... Why is that type of questioning judgemental? It's no different to every other person having a giggle and saying "you must be mad" or "glutton for punishment" when I tell them I have three children. I don't see any of that as judgemental...and even if it sometimes is, I could not care less. I'm happy with my life choices so there's pretty much nothing anyone can say on the subject that bothers me. I wonder sometimes what on earth it is ok to talk about or ask about when first getting to know someone. There's no doubt that some people would judge you...and those same people would probably judge me on my parenting or teachers on their teaching style or GP's on their bedside manner. Let them be miserable and judgemental...then leave them behind & get on happily with your own life.
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 14:07
Oh sherry...these little ones can be such a worry. :( Are you still breastfeeding her or only expressed milk? If she's nursing from you, I'd suggest putting her to the breast as often as she's interested. This will give her all of the food and water she needs. The dr's would (should?) only be suggesting pedialyte if she's showing signs of dehydration. If the vomiting was only that one night and she's drinking well since then, the pedialyte may not be needed. Most breastfed babies hate it anyway. ;) She's too little to be given an electrolyte solution alone so she needs either breastmilk or formula. The formula you gave last night...is that her usual brand? If it is and she's usually fine with it, perhaps try giving it to her in small amounts but more often so she gets the full amount needed for a day...this advice only if you are not breastfeeding her. Is she producing enough pale, wet nappies? Is she alert when she's awake. I would also suggest stopping the rice cereal until she's fully recovered. When she's 100% better, that would be the time to come back here and get lots of great advice on starting solids. You can skip the rice cereal (wallpaper paste ;) ) completely. :) <em>edited by Green-ish on 29/03/2012</em>
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 13:59
Seriously, you'll most likely only need to see her once! She is worth every dirham...imagine an hour with her, changing your behaviour as she advises and the dog never does another nervous wee??? Call her today and your DH will see she's worthwhile. :D
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 13:18
How are things going JJ? Have you spoken to Verity?
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:47
You could look up the local distributors of your brand machine. They will have a brand knowledgeable maintenance team who will most likely have the part, bring it to you and fit it. :)
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:41
Yes ShadyPiper it is in the Beach Centre on the Beach Road (old blue mall, same one that has the 2 party shops in it)... it is the 1st shop on the left when you go into the door leading off the car park. ;) SO pleased my husband never found that one! :D
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:31
It may be "a bit strong" but the fact is that there is no regulation so they can do and tell you whatever they think you want to hear. [b'>How much are their whole chickens? [/b'> That will tell you exactly how chemical-free they are. ;) If you do the farm tour, I'd be interested to hear your feedback. Bumpity bump. :D Does anyone know how much a whole chicken from this farm costs? 17 Dhs in Carrefour for 1 Kg. chicken yesterday.. OK...that actually gives me a teeny bit more faith in them but I have been away for a while and don't know how much the others are. When a whole chicken could be bought for 6dhs it was clear they were chemically enhanced. I have some hybrid chickens here...specifically bred (not by me!) to grow fast and produce eggs early and in great numbers. :( They were given to me as battery rejects. :( Now, they are 12 weeks old and have cost me a small fortune in feed alone, let alone constructing their hen house etc and they are not even close to table size. My purebred (old-fashioned) chooks are twice their age and the same size. If I was to butcher and sell them for 17dhs now ( at probably 550g each) I'd make a pretty serious financial loss on them. Of course, bulk feed for farms is a lot cheaper but factor in significant set-up costs and the sometimes astronomical business fees charged in the UAE, I have to wonder HOW they can sell a 1kg chicken for so little. The answer is possibly in in-humane (over crowded) living conditions and high doses of antibiotics so they don't all kill each other with disease in cramped conditions. There are also plenty of growth supplements that can be given that are not strictly hormones. I sincerely hope I'm wrong. I'd love to know there is an ethical local producer. <em>edited by Green-ish on 29/03/2012</em>
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:17
Can still remember watching my great-uncle wringing the necks of turkeys for the Christmas season. Used to help him pluck them too! He had a smallholding just outside Glasgow. Back home just over a year now and I always buy free range chooks. "Like" a whole lot! I'll bet your uncle's turkeys tasted amazing too, as opposed to the mass-produced beige ones we have free access to every year now.
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:09
There are a couple of posts in this recent thread that give tips on what features to look for... http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=176335
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:07
It may be "a bit strong" but the fact is that there is no regulation so they can do and tell you whatever they think you want to hear. [b'>How much are their whole chickens? [/b'> That will tell you exactly how chemical-free they are. ;) If you do the farm tour, I'd be interested to hear your feedback. Bumpity bump. :D Does anyone know how much a whole chicken from this farm costs?
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:04
I shall bow out of this discussion now........it is turning direction. What direction is that? I think it's a great discussion...learn something new every day and all that. ;)
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 12:00
Would rather eat a Halal slaughtered chicken than one that has been gassed as they do many places in Europe.. this tidbit may be of interest to you. Not sure how valid the study is, but food for thought along the lines which we are thinking: http://www.mustaqim.co.uk/halal.htm again, I also agree with Green-ish on the subject. Something that should be considered, as well, in the terms of antibiotics/hormones in the meat that we eat--think about slaughter. Assuming the hormones in animals are present in the meat that we buy, well what about this? Think how much stress and fear an animal goes through when they are waiting their turn in a slaughterhouse. Cortisol is a hormone, after all, and a particularly nasty and harmful one. Wouldn't animals release this as well? Does it transfer to the meat that we eat, if we believe that artificial, growth-inducing hormones are transferred? If so, does cooking break down any of these? The thought of eating additional estrogen, or fear, stress, what-have-you is particularly unattractive to me--one of the reasons meat is a "treat" to me, and I prefer fish for a protein source, because I just feel better about it. Then comes the mercury levels, etc, associated with fish debate...lol Interesting article Beebers...and other food for thought. The basics of the halal method is exactly what I grew up watching on family sheep stations here in Aus. Way back when, the method was to shoot the beast first then slit the throat. Once, my cousin didn't shoot the animal first and everyone thought the meat later eaten tasted FAR better. He kept with the second method after that...
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 11:48
... In the Park and Shop in Tecom they have vegetarian Smokey Bacon Crisps, Chicken only Stock Cubes, and my favourite, Vegetarian sausages... I felt compelled to point out the "suitable for vegetarians" stickers on them.... Not everything in the Pork sections are actually Pork, just frowned upon. They will be put in the pork section even if they simply travelled in a shipping container with non-halal foods.
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 11:44
It may be "a bit strong" but the fact is that there is no regulation so they can do and tell you whatever they think you want to hear. How much are their whole chickens? That will tell you exactly how chemical-free they are. ;) If you do the farm tour, I'd be interested to hear your feedback.
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 11:31
I could not agree more, but not everyone can afford organic chicken all the time, and there is also the aspect of the environment local Vs. imported.. I actually called up the company again as I did not ask about antibiotics before and I talked to a production manager who told me that NO antibiotics are used, and the Rawdah chicken are 100% grain fed. Anyway, all for organic, but still think supporting local production is important especially when they actually have a good product. What I'm saying is that a generation ago chickens were humanely & naturally raised (ie no chemicals in the feed) in small numbers so a roast chicken for Sunday dinner was more commonplace for the wealthy and a treat for the not-so-well-off or only when a backyard raised bird stopped producing enough eggs for the family. I'm saying we should enjoy humanely raised, chemical-free chicken as an occasional treat. Having it on the menu every other day is a new luxury brought on by recent mass production. I'm pretty sure most people reading this forum could afford a free-range organic bird once a month to genuinely enjoy. Apologies for being cynical, but you are living in the land of "Yes Maam". Of course they will tell you there are no additives in their chicken because they need to sell the stuff to make a living. There is no locally enforced law that requires them to be honest with you. They swore black & blue that the 19 day old chickens in the Spinneys fridge were hormone free...until independent testing proved otherwise. Eat locally produced chicken if it's worth the risk. I for one would never feed it to my children!! <em>edited by Green-ish on 29/03/2012</em>
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 10:30
And I think there was a shop in the Beach Centre (??) on Beach Rd too... memory fading...must quit EW!
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 10:29
Stretching my memory here but I think there was a shop either in Green Community or in The Greens. I'm sure someone who can actually help you will come along soon. :D If you want to look at some available overseas, I bought a beautiful watch from http://www.watchestobuy.com/ . Excellent, trustworthy service.
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 10:15
The best quality ones we saw are at Wolfi's on SZR. They are a little pricey, but excellent quality. My daughter used hers all day, almost every day for two years, left it out in occasional rain and Dubai shine and it still looks like new for her little sister to learn on.
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 05:47
I was refused a birth certificate until my son had been vaccinated, so it can indeed be the case. Refused by who BFC? When was that? Vaccinations are not required by law so that's appalling that 'they' did that to you. :(
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 05:45
If you get really stuck, you could choose your own gorgeous (and cheap!) fabrics and make (or have made!) some sheet sets. They're so easy to make so would cost next to nothing to have made up. Awww...personalised sheets for your little one. :D
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Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 05:34
I'm all for supporting local growers of fruit, vege and animal products. The problem is that there is no clear set of guidelines in the UAE on the raising of poultry for human consumption. After a big kerfuffle a few years ago, the industry now says it's hormone-free, and I sincerely hope it is. Another problem though is the use of antibiotics (eg for coccidosis which is common in farmed chickens). Many of these antibiotics are unsafe for human consumption...we should not even eat the eggs of chooks treated for coccidosis. How much is a whole chicken in Dubai these days? I used to cringe wondering how they could produce for sale a whole housed, fed, vet treated, killed, plucked, butchered and packaged animal for a few dirhams. Smells of cheap chemical laden feed and poor (cruel?) husbandry techniques to me! Until the industry is crystal clear on what the chickens are actually fed (and I mean ALL ingredients in the feed), I would suggest people treat chicken as it traditionally was...a treat meal every now and then. Spend the money on good quality, free-range organic chicken and be sure of your family's safety. <em>edited by Green-ish on 29/03/2012</em>
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 13:26
Sunshine is a UK company: http://sunshinebbq.sunshinelifestyle.co.uk/ HTH I saw that site CT - they claim they are Australian..."An International company headquartered in Australia..." Then they go on to say, "Sunshine is one of the best-known names for barbecues "down under"" Ummm...still never heard of them. LOL
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 13:21
We had a couple of turtles that were passed onto us when their original family had to leave. They are now with someone else 'cause they're not allowed to come to Aus. I think the thing with reptiles is that people don't realise how much work they are and how sensitive they are to less-than-perfect conditions. Now, I have very little faith in any of the pet stores in Dubai, but I think even healthy reptiles and fish are easily killed if the new owners can't provide what they need. Those two gorgeous, funny little turtles were quite a bit of maintenance for their wee size! I often saw hermit crabs in that hideous pet shop at Uptown Mirdif (Paws & Claws??) and at Petland in Al Quoz. No idea how much they were though.
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 13:16
You should be allowed to birth in any position you feel comfortable in. The hospital should be able to provide any tools you want (stool, ball, heat/cold packs etc) or let you bring in anything they can't provide. My advice is to have your wishes written in a birth plan, have your OB sign it and have your support person bring LOTS of copies on the day. Hand them to anyone who comes into the room and insist your plan is read by all. Insist that anyone who is not 100% supportive of your wishes does not come into the room. Discuss this with your OB and have it in the written plan, if it's important to you. Don't forget to include what you'd like to have happen after the baby is born (don't cut cord immediately; immediate skin-to-skin contact; no formula etc)...whatever you want for YOUR baby. ;) At both American (2007) and Al Wasl (2009) I was allowed to do whatever I felt I needed to do. As long as we keep in mind that even best laid plans can go pear-shaped, you can at least aim for the birth of your dreams. <em>edited by Green-ish on 28/03/2012</em>
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 13:05
Ok, spill it, where are the rainbow Paddle Pops?? Be cryptic if you like... lol I also love the Bulla mint ice cream but at 35dhs a tub it's not exactly cheap!!! Lol...I'm being mean! They're always at our local, corner store...here in Noosa. :D
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 12:51
Who was that EW member whose husband used to import all of the good Aussie stuff?? Does anyone remember the excitement when Four & Twenty pies and sausage rolls could be found in Spinneys??? I never saw Kool Mints in Dubai, then again, I haven't seen them here in YEARS either. ;) Everything else on your list, SkyKitty, used to be regularly on the shelves in Spinneys...up the back near all of the British goodies. 'Bring back' Rainbow Paddle Pops? They are a regular (well, maybe monthly) treat adored by my little ones. :D
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 12:47
Lol...I've never heard of a "Sunshine BBQ"! I don't know that any one brand is particularly the way to go. You need to look at the specific model and decide based on the features you want and the quality you can justify spending your dirhams on. ;) Weber make some great BBQ's...they also make some cheap, entry-level rubbish. Same can be said of Beefeater which is the biggest selling brand in Aus. Here's a link on what to look for ... http://www.appliancesonlineblog.com.au/bbqs-and-outdoor/how-to-choose-a-bbq/
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 12:41
I know they are unwelcome, filthy little pests but please don't leave baits for them or let the DM team leave baits. They need to be trapped and killed. Baiting them is a horrible cruel death for them (and yes, I'm well aware that most people could not care less about that) but worse, it's a horrible cruel death for any cat, dog, local bird of prey, desert fox, caracal etc that eats the carcass.
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 12:24
ok. you cannot sterilize a cat until the heat is over. [b'> You should have taken the said cat to be sterilized way before this but yo didmt.[/b'> As soon as the inflamation has reduced and the heat is over get the cat sterilized! You will just have to live with it until is it done. In fairness, some cats have their first season very early. Vets told us to book our kitten in somewhere between 5 & 6 months. She went on heat before she was 4 months old and there was no warning. One day she was sweet and quiet. The next night she was a wailing banshee that could not be soothed or silenced. I hope she settles quickly Bikey so you can whip her off to the vets.
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Latest post on 28 March 2012 - 12:19
:( My friend lives not far from there and has been posting on FB about all of the helicopters out looking for him. I'm praying he is found safe and well. <em>edited by Green-ish on 28/03/2012</em>
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Latest post on 27 March 2012 - 16:52
Great news sami. More prayers coming from across the world for you. xx
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Latest post on 27 March 2012 - 16:50
... Just wanted to double check if its alright to have all the bits in nappy or does it indicate inability to digest a particular food. Also, wanted to check if you ladies followed the 4 day rule? We don't have a family history of allergies but I am treading the path with caution. I think DS was quite bored with the same stuff today (carrot and broccoli) - he threw all of it on the floor, and didnt have much :(. Maybe he needs more variety. The carrot in the nappy is a perfect indication that he took lots in. :) If there was an allergy or intollerance problem then there would be symptoms...rash around his mouth or on his body; discomfort or pain in the tummy; smelly, frothy or loose stools etc. Sounds to me like he's fine. If you have no history of allergies in the family, then power on with other foods. My daughter's second meal was a chicken leg. Half of the fun of going straight to real food instead of purees is that baby can eat the same foods as you and eat them with you. As you prepare your meal, keep him in mind and remove a portion of each food before adding salt/sugar/chilli etc. Serve it all in safe, fist gnawing size pieces and sit down to eat with him. He'll love it! (Even if it's just a sandwich for lunch.) :D
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Latest post on 27 March 2012 - 16:38
"I read a book in the Sixties. I don’t remember the author, or the title. But it was green, and it made me laugh. Do you know which one I mean?" No idea what the book was, but this one made me laugh out loud and wake my daughter!
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Latest post on 27 March 2012 - 16:10
I paid money to a sponsor so he would release a lady and let her come and work for me legally. He said it was to recoup some of his costs incrued by bring the maid here a few years ago. I did this after she made it clear that if she was sent back to the Phillipines her (ex) husband would see her and beat her. She was afraid for her life so I made arrangements to ensure she could come and work for me without having to go back to the Phillipines. Call that what you like. edited by DesertRose1958 on 27/03/2012 Well done DesertRose! Agree! Ditto that. Sure the original sponsor got some money in a dodgy way, but all DR did was get a woman out of an awful situation and respect her right to personal safety.
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Latest post on 27 March 2012 - 16:09
Can't you talk to DNRD about starting the visa process with your family? If her visa is already expired, what claim does this man have on her? Get the poor woman out of there as soon as you can...once you have DNRD advice.
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Latest post on 27 March 2012 - 13:30
They may be highly recommended and may be licensed somewhere in the world, but here in the UAE they require their license to be from the DED and at present the DED does not offer this category, so unless someone can update us on their situation, we can only assume that their practices are illegal. While I realise this may be a stoopid question, given the operational grey area of so many companies in the UAE...surely they must have appropriate licenses since they have advertised all of their services so openly and widely for so long? If they were operating illegally, it would be so very easy for the authorities to shut them down, wouldn't it?
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 14:25
Was it ure own pool? I just stopped my pool cleaner from adding acid to the pool they were gonna do it without telling me grrrr even though I've told them they must get approval from me...otherwise me n the kids would have swam in it when they left, and[b'> it needs 24 hours at least [/b'>:) As long as the filter is running, it's fine to swim 2 hrs after adding acid. ;)
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 13:58
Perhaps let the vet clinic at Nad Al Sheba know. They are the 'exotic' pet specialists and might know of someone who knows how to look after them properly. To be healthy and happy they need a LOT more than lettuce...don't under-sell the care required or your tortoise may not end up in a responsible home.
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 13:55
Is it the pool water? Or the sunscreen? Or the sun? Lots of people are very sensitive to the sun and adding chemical laden sunscreens just makes it worse. You might need to see a dermatologist. I hope you find a solution soon.
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 13:53
Oh no! What a great shame. That was one of our favourite things to do in Dubai! :(
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 13:14
I will try all the suggestions. I wanted to buy cloth diapers but I have so many issues going on in my life that I dont need more things to think about. Thanks When he gets all wet, are the nappies really full? If they are full to bursting, then maybe go up a size. If they are not completely full (REALLY swollen) then I think they are too big and you need to go down a size or adjust how you're fitting them. Good luck!
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 12:36
You could try cloth nappies. Some people have a lot more success with them overnight. Another option is to use two nappies...one that is the correct size for your baby's build, then the next larger size over the top of that. In theory, the larger one will catch any leaks from the smaller one without being too tight and uncomfortable. It might also be that you just need to try another size. Not all babies 'fit' according to the weight guides on the pack. More important is your baby's build. If there is any gaping around the legs or waist, the nappies will always leak.
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 12:20
I started at about 12 months then every six months (give or take!). I have friends who started as soon as the little one had teeth. :D We saw a lovely dentist who is particularly gentle with children (Dr Izabella at Nicolas&Asp) and all she really did in most early appointments was get them in the chair, on my lap, look in their mouths and chat to them. Nothing invasive or scary and now (6, 4 & 2 yrs) they are all brilliant about going to the dentist. Dr Izabella rebuilt my middle child's front tooth after it shattered during a fall. :( She is SO good with children. My daugher was about 18 months old at the time and it was a stress free procedure. I can't speak highly enough of Dr Izabella. :)
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Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 09:28
Hi again. :) I don't know anything about dwarf hamsters, but I think I remember reading here recently that they only live for 2 yrs?? Might be a better short-term option?
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Latest post on 24 March 2012 - 12:19
I just watched a video on youtube... "watch Rhonda Shear insult women's bras" is this it? I don't know...just did a quick search and couldn't find it. I think that is the name of the woman who markets them though. Lol...even on the various Ahh Bra websites there are plenty of bad reviews. Most who say they are supportive say "...if you wear two or more...". Don't do it Rabiaah. ;)
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Latest post on 24 March 2012 - 09:26
Hi ladies Thank you so much for the useful infos and for sharing your experience. Greennish, I remember perfectly your travelling alone with the kids in Italy, you are so brave;) do you by any chance remember the name of the villa you rented in Tuscany and in which city ( for my future reference)? And Singapore sling, could you also give me some names on the Greek island and in Thailand? Thanks also na115... Your sister is brave too;) :D Lol...not brave. Just too tight to give up the money we'd already spent! ;) The villa we rented is no longer available. It sold late last year. :( We stayed near Arezzo which was great. To be honest, I don't think it would matter where you stay in Tuscany. It's all heaven on earth! If there was a next time, we might look for something a bit closer to Rome though. That three hour drive after the plane flight is a killer. We found the villa on http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/ There are also lots of fabulous Agriturismo properties in the area - http://en.agriturismo.com/
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Latest post on 24 March 2012 - 05:33
Where will your husband be working? Travel times are a very real issue in Dubai! Do you need to worry about schools?? There are furnished and partly furnished villas around, but they are pretty rare. I think some of the newer estates more often have white good included?? Sorry...I'm not huch help either as we left a while ago, but the ladies here will need a bit more info to be able to best help you. Good luck with the move. I miss Dubai every day!